Visual and audible signal attachment for umbrellas,canes and the like



Aug. 12, 1969 E. KRAMER 3,461,448

VISUAL AND AUDIBLE SIGNAL ATTACHMENT FOR UMBRELLAS, CANES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 13, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R 0 0 Z 60 6.9 V V 66 56 (Q? 12 m" I (/6 I// l ly-i T l [qll A, M X [a 4,7

---L- L-L-LJJ u {A /K 69 7 70 v 1/ 72 INVENTOR fiv /g1? Kramer BY TIER/V3.5

Aug. 12, 1969 KRAMER 3,461,448

VISUAL AND AUDIBLE SIGNAL ATTACHMENT FOR I UMBRELLAS, CANES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 13, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR Eve /gn Kramer ATTDRN Aug. i2, 1969 A E. KRAMER 3,461,448

VISUAL AND AUDIBLE SIGNAL ATTACHMENT FOR v UMBRELLAS, CANES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 13, 1967 3 SheetsSheet 3 INVENT OR EVE/gr) Kramer BY WW ATTURNEYE United States Patent ()flice 3,461,448 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 3,461,448 VISUAL AND AUDIBLE SIGNAL ATTACHMENT FOR UMBRELLAS, CANES AND THE LIKE Evelyn Kramer, 215 W. 75th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed Sept. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 667,549 Int. Cl. G08b 23/00 U.S. Cl. 340-321 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure describes a lamp signalling device which can be mounted on a support such as an umbrella. It has a battery driven motor which rotates a reflector carrying a signal flag. The device has a siren which emits an audible signal or alarm.

The invention involves a signaling device especially adapted for mounting on the end of an umbrella, cane or other rod-like support.

According to the invention, there is provided an electrically driven and operated audible and visual signaling device which can be carried in a pocket or handbag. The device has a cylindrical body which can be mounted on a rod such as an umbrella shaft. The device includes a rotatable transparent reflector within which is a plurality of lamps. The lamps are illuminated while the reflector rotates so that the signal is visible for a considerable distance at night. Inside the reflector and mounted on the motor is a siren. The siren has a rotor which is driven by the motor to emit a clearly audible high pitched sound. A luminous signal arm can be removably attached to the reflector to rotate therewith. The sign may be employed to attract attention of a taxicab driver, policeman, or other person whose service or assistance is required.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a portable signal device mountable on the end of an umbrella shaft, cane, or the like, the device including a rotatable reflector and lamp.

A further object is to provide a device as described with a luminous signal arm removably attached to the reflector and extending radially outward thereof.

Another object is to provide a device as described provided with an internal battery power supply, motor, electric circuit and switch means for turning the motor and lamp on and off.

A further object is to provide a device as described with a siren mounted on the motor for remitting a high pitched audible alarm.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the signal device embodying the invention, and

FIG. 2 is another side elevational view of the device taken 90 from the position shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device in the position of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 .is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a signal arm, and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the device, and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an electric circuit employed in the device, and

FIG. 10 is a side view of another signal arm.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 8, there is shown the signal device 10 which includes a rather flat cylindrical base 12 having an axial extension sleeve 14 in which is a conical bore 16. The bore is adapted to receive the end E of the shaft of an umbrella U, a cane or other rod-like structure upon which the base can be mounted .in axial vertical position. In the base 12 is a lateral recess 15. A switch 16 is secured in the recess by screws 17 threaded in holes in the outer side of the base. The switch has an operating handle 18. Attached to the base by screws 19 is a conductive metal disc 20 (see FIG. 5). The disc has an upstanding peripheral flange 22.

Mounted on the flat, closed top of the sleeve 14 by screws 23 is a flat, circular metal disc 24. The screws are threaded in holes 26 in the top of the sleeve which is made of insulation material such as plastic or the like (see FIG. 8). A cylindrical casing 28 of a motor 30 is secured to disc 24 by screws 32 threaded in holes 33. The motor has an upwardly extending rotatable axial shaft 34. The free upper end of the shaft is threaded and a disc washer 36 is threaded on this end of the shaft. Four lamps 38 are removably mounted in circumferentially spaced sockets 40 secured on top of the motor casing.

Mounted on top of the motor by screws 39 engaged in tabs 41 is a cylindrical siren 43 having peripheral slots 45 which emit a high pitched sound. Inside the siren is a rotor 37 engaged with shaft 34 of the motor and rotated thereby. Air enters rotor 37 through holes 35 and leaves the siren through slots 45; see FIG. 8.

Extending longitudinally of the sleeve 14 in its outer side is a groove 42. An electric cable 44 including wires 82, 83 passes from switch 16 upward along groove 42, through hole 43 in disc 24 to the interior of motor 30 Where it is wired in an electric circuit for energizing the lamps 38 and the motor 30. Two batteries 46 are removably mounted on the disc 20. These batteries are held stationary by spring clips 48 secured to the outer side of sleeve 14. The positive terminals 47 of the batteries contact disc 24.

A transparent glass or plastic reflector 50 is provided for the device. This reflector is a hollow cylindrical member with a rounded top and open bottom. A hole 52 is formed in the top. The threaded end of shaft 34 passes through this hole and a nut 54 is threaded on the upper end of the shaft. A washer 55 is disposed between the nut and top of the reflector. The reflector is formed with an annular depending flange 56 at its lower end. This flange extends within the flange 22 which serves as a guide during rotation of the reflector. The reflector 50 rotates with shaft 34. Holes 51 circumferentially spaced in the reflector pass the high pitched sound emitted by siren 43.

The interior of the reflector is formed with .internal convex beads 57 which serve as reflecting and refracting optical elements and lenses while the reflector 50 rotates. The reflector 50 may be clear, but is preferably colored red or yellow to attract maximum attention when illuminated and rotating. Integrally formed with the reflector and extending radially on its outer side is a wing 60 having holes 62 formed therein. A flat, rectangular signal arm 64 is provided with studs 66 on a rabbeted end portion 68 of the arm. This end portion abuts a corresponding rabbeted portion 69 of wing 60 in which the hole 62 are formed with studs 66 engaging .in holes 62 in the wing portion 69.

The signal arm 64 extends radially outward of the reflector and rotates therewith. Attached to the arm by pressure sensitive adhesive 70 are letters 72 reading TAXI to indicate the type of service or assistance desired. The

letters may be formed of luminescent or phosphorescent material which glows brightly when illuminated. If desired the letters may be removable or interchangeable with other similar letters to form different signs.

Thus as shown in FIG. 10, another sign is formed by mounting letters 72 reading HELP! on arm 64, in place of letters 72. Other letters can be supplied to spell out POLICE, PORTER or other word indicating the type of service or assistance desired.

FIG. 9 shows schematically the electric circuit of the device. Handle 18 of the switch 16 controls two arms 75, 76. The switch handle has three switch positions. Arm 75 contacts each of three fixed contacts 80a, 80b, 80c in each of the three positions while arms 76 contacts three fixed contacts 81a, 81b, 81c. The center contacts 80b and 81b are unconnected and are located inathe center or OFF position of the switch. Left contact 80a is connected to contact 800 and in turn connected to motor 30 via wire 82. The left contact 81a is open and right contact 81c is connected to lamps 38 which are connected in parallel to each other via wire 83. The lamps and motor are connected together in common via wire 84 and disk 24 to the positive terminals 47 of batteries 46. The negative terminals 88 which are the negative cases of the batteries are connected to arms 75, 76 of the switch 16 via disk 20, stud 23 and wire 89. The stud 23 is shown in FIG. 4 extending into the body of switch 16.

When the switch handle 18 is thrown to the left position as shown in FIG. 9 the motor alone will be energized to rotate the reflector and attached arm 64 while siren 43 will sound. When the switch handle is thrown to the right, the motor and lamps will be energized simultaneously. The reflector and arm will rotate while the lamps are lit and the siren sounds, setting the handle to center OFF position stops the motor, silences the siren, and extinguishes the lamps.

The reflector can be easily removed by detaching the cap nut 54 for replacing batteries and lamps. The arm 64 can be readily detached for storing the device compactly in a pocket, purse or the like.

When the signal device is held aloft on a cane or umbrella and is operating with lamps lit, reflector with attached signal arm rotating and siren sounding the device will attract attention from a considerable distance. When used on an umbrella shaft, the device makes it possible for a person carrying the umbrella to summon a taxicab or other assistance while remaining protected under the open umbrella.

The device is light in weight, compact and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

What is claimed is:

1. A signal device adapted to be mounted on a rod-like support, comprising a generally cylindrical base; a sleeve extending axially from said base, said base and sleeve having a central bore to receive and engage on said support; a motor mounted on said sleeve, said motor having an axially vertical and rotatable shaft; a cylindrical transparent reflector detachable mounted on said shaft and enclosing said motor and sleeve to rotate with said shaft and around the motor and sleeve; lamp sockets mounted on the motor for supporting lamp bulbs to illuminate the reflector; a manually operable switch carried by said base; power supply means carried by the base; and circuit means electrically connecting said switch, lamp sockets and motor for controllably energizing the lamp bulbs and motor.

2. A signal device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a signal arm detachably secured to said reflector and extending radially therefrom, said' arm carrying letters rendered luminous by light of said lamp passing through the reflector.

3. A signal device as recited in claim 1, wherein said power supply means comprise a plurality of batteries; said circuit means comprising electrical contacts means carried by said base in contact with the terminals of the batteries.

4. A signal. device as recited in claim 1, further comprising audible signal means arranged to be sounded when the motor is operating.

5. A signal device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a siren having'a stationary apertured cylindrical body mounted on the motor and a rotor engaged with the shaft of the motor for producing a high pitched'sound when the motor is operating, said reflector having apertures for passing sound emitted by the siren.

6. A signal device as recited in claim 5, further comprising a signal arm detachably secured to said reflector and extending radially therefrom, said arm carrying letters rendered luminous by light of said lamp passing through the reflector.

7. A signal device as recited .in claim 6, wherein said reflector has internally formed lens portions for reflecting and refracting light as the reflector rotates while the lamps are lit.

8. A signal device as recited in claim 2, wherein the letters on the signal arm are removably held by pressure sensitive adhesive so that the letters can be replaced by other letters.

9. A signal device as recited in claim 5, wherein said switch has a plurality of positions, said motor alone being energized and the siren being sounded when the switch is in one of said positions, and said motor and lamp bulbs being'energized and the siren being sounded when the switch is in another of said positions.

10. A signaldevice as recited in claim 9, further comprising a signal arm detachably secured to said reflector and extending radially therefrom, said arm carrying letters rendered luminous by light of said lamp passing through the reflector.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,674,726 4/1954 Williams. 2,814,029 11/1957 McRea 34050 X JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner HAROLD I. PITTS, Assistant Examiner US. or. xn. 24040; 34o 25, 50, 326, 384 

